2nd impeach complaint vs CJ possible: Tañada

By RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News

MANILA, Philippines - A spokesman of the House prosecution panel on Thursday said the House of Representatives will have to consider filing a 2nd impeachment case against Chief Justice Renato Corona if he is acquitted by the Senate this year.

Prosecution spokesman Lorenzo Tañada said the onset of the May 2013 election season may weigh heavily in the minds of the lawmakers.

He said there may be no quorum for the Senate since many senators will be seeking reelection.

Tañada confirmed he will be running for the Senate in the 2013 polls.

His fellow spokesman, Rep. Sonny Angara, has not decided if he will run for the Senate. Angara is on his 3rd and last term as congressman of Aurora.

Angara, former Akbayan party-list Rep. Rissa Hontiveros, TESDA director general Joel Villanueva and Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon have been mentioned by President Aquino as likely candidates of the administration Liberal Party for the Senate in 2013.

Both Tañada and Angara do not think that the result of the ongoing impeachment trial will influence their political fortunes in 2013, saying voters will vote with other issues in mind besides the impeachment.

Angara said that in one survey, the impeachment of Corona ranked low in the factors for voter choices for 2013.